Sumitra Vasudev, a talented vocalist and prime disciple of R.Vedavalli, is quite an experienced vocalist with performing experience all over the country and abroad. Kartikeya Gana Sabha featured Sumitra in a concert last week at Sri Gnana Saraswathi temple’s Hall in Musheerabad. She was accompanied by Kolanka Saikumar on violin, Burra Sriram on mridangam and Bachu Janardan on ghatam.
Sumitra opened her concert with Saveri varnam Sarasuda in two speeds that drew instant appreciation from audience. Subrahmanyena of Dikshitar in Suddha Dhanyasi was her next number with brief raga essay The swarakalpana too was quite engaging. Marivere in Anandabhairavi, misrachapu talam of Shyama Sastry figured next that was opened with essaying of the raga. Later she presented Devadideva Sadasiva by Thyagaraja in Sindhunamakriya followed by Ninu Sevimpa in Yadukulakambhoji prefaced with by its raga essay. Sumitra then went for the first serious number Raghuvara in Pantuvarali of Thyagaraja. She evolved the raga with fine moves with nuances here and there. The swarakalpana part displayed her ease and spontaneity in building swara sets.
After presenting a Tamil composition Karunai in Begada - Sumitra chose Chesinadella Marachitivo in Thodi of Thyagaraja in Adi Chowka kalam as her main number. The raga essay was exemplary in delineation, built step by step beautifying the phrases in the raga’s progress. The rendition of the kriti was neat and with clarity of sahitya, fortified further in its neraval. She concluded the concert with a Kannada composition.
